IT pros more aware of Sexual Offences Act

More than half of IT pros are now aware of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and its recent campaign to stamp out illegal content in the workplace.

In May, the IWF kicked off its "Wipe it Out" campaign to crack down on child porn in the workplace following the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003.

At the time, a survey of 200 IT managers found that many IT managers were unsure about what to do if they found illegal material on their servers.

Three quarters of those quizzed admitted that they would not report employees caught downloading indecent images of children to the police, while four in ten companies would not even discipline or dismiss an employee caught up to no good.

The results were described as "shocking" by the IWF.

Following its "Wipe it Out" campaign, though, the IWF claims six in ten IT experts are now up to speed and aware of changes to the law.

Said IWF chief exec Peter Robbins: "We are very pleased to see such increased levels of awareness of the IWF and the work we do.

"IT Managers and CEO's should feel reassured this legislation is in place to help them operate within the law, protect their employees and company and help to minimise criminal activities such as viewing and distributing these illegal images.

"...there really is no excuse for employers not to have a policy in place which directly addresses the issue of potentially illegal child abuse images in the workplace," he said. ®